Machine gun mounting



Jan. 5, 1932. R c W 1,839,949

MACHINE GUN MOUNTING Filed Oct. 6, 1950 2 sheets sheei 1 Jan. 5, 1932. R4 CHADWICK MACHINE GUN MOUNTING Filed Oct. 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I HI IHI HHHHMIHHHHHHHI I H HI I Patented Jan. 5, 1932 ROY CHADWICK, OF NEWTON HEATH, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO A. V. ROE 82; GOMPANY LIM'ITED, 0F.NEW"1ON HEATH, IVLANCHESTER, ENG- MACHINE GUN MOUNTING Application filed October 6, 1930, Serial No. 486,820, and in Great Britain November 5, 1930.

lhis invention relates to the mountings for machine guns of the type in which the gun is carried by a frame of substantially U shape pivotally attached to a ring running upon a circular runway, the invention being particularly applicable to gun mountings for aeroplanes, airships, tanks, warships, antiaircraft guns, motor boats and other like services.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for controlling the catches by which the frame is held in any desired position with relation to the ring and the latter is secured to the runway.

The invention comprises, in machine gun mountings of the type specified, the arrangement of the control means for the catches by which the frame is locked to the ring and the latter to the runway, through a hollow spindle forming the pivot of the frame upon the The invention further comprises the arrangement of conical members upon a spring loaded rod passing through the hollow spindle about which the frame pivots, and plunger-like parts engaging said cones and operating the catches as the rod is moved longitudinally through the hollow spindle.

Referring to the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section and Figure 2 a side elevation, also partly in section, of a gun mounting with locking means constructed and arranged in one convenient form in accordance with my invention for use for example upon an aeroplane.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, also partly in section, of the opposite side of the mounting to that shown in Figure 2.

The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

The gun is mounted in the usual swivel fittings permitting of universal movements of the gun, and such fittings are carried at a in the U shaped frame I) which is p-ivotally mounted at its ends about a hollow spindle 0 carried in brackets (Z secured to the ring 0 which can be turned upon the circular runway 7". Secured to each bracket (2 are two.

toothed or notched quadrants 9, one at each side of the pivotal end of the frame 6, the teeth or notches in which are adapted to be engaged by keys it, one guided in each end of the frame 6 and loaded by a spring 1'. Each key is adapted to be moved clear of the said teeth or notches against the pressure of its spring 2' by a plunger like member 3' having at one end a roller engaged by a conical member m upon a tubular rod 1% extending from side to side of the frame 7) and through which passes a cable-0 connected at one end to the threaded member pupon the end of the rod or and at the other end to a hand lever q. An arm is pivotally connect ed to the rod 12 as shown in Figure 3 and serves to turn a spindle s which operates a spring loaded locking-bolt 25 adapted to enter any one of the series of holesin the runway f in order to hold the ring 6 in any desired position upon the runway.

The adjustment .or setting of the cones which release the keys k and the arm 1" which releases 'the locking bolt 23 is such that the key's'a're moved clear of the quadrants g be fore the ring e is released from connection with the runway f by the bolt 16, so that the frame Z) can be moved about its axis before the ring 6 is freed for circular movement.

.Torsionsprings u coiled around the spindle c are each connected at one end to a 001 lar '0 upon such spindle and at the other end to the fixed brackets cl or parts attached thereto. As the frame 6" turns with the spindle c to which its ends are connected by keys w, the action of the springs u is to tend to turn the frame to an upright position. A series of holes may be provided in the collar 0 and the ends of the springs a may be passed into any one of the said holes to give the desired torsional power to the springs.

My improved catch operating means are simple and effective, and can be readily adjusted by means of the threaded member 10 in the end of the rod 79. where it is accessible for manipulation to set the parts accurately and to compensate for any stretch of the cable 0.

What I claim is 1- combination, a'circular runway, a ring running upon said runway, a gun carrying frame of substantially U shape pivotally at.- tached to said ring, a hollow spindle extending across the open end of said carrying frame and about which the latter pivots an inner member extending across the two branches of the carrying frame Within the J said hollow spindle, and manually controlled I means for moving said inner member to'op ere Q 10 ate simultaneously locking devices provided within both arms of the U shaped carrying 1 frame thereby freeing said frame, the said movement of the inner member also operat ing an additional locking device on one side of the ring whereby the latter is free to rotate on its runway. V

V 2. Machine gunpmounting comprising'in combination, a circular runway, a ring running upon said runway, a guncarrying frame of substantially U shape pivotally attached to said ring, notched quadrants fixed upon the ringand disposed concentrically with the axis of movement of theframe',spring loaded v V catches within each branch of the frame adapted to engagesaid quadrants, conical members upon a springloaded rod passing through a hollow, spindle about which the frame :pivots, plunger like parts-engaging said cones and operating the. catches as the rod is moved longitudinally through the hol-- low spindle, a hand grip for operating said rod pivoted uponithe frame and connected to one endof a cable, and the other end of whichv is connected to said rod,'and a bolt for lock- 7 ing the ring to its runway also operated from said rod.

3. Machine gun mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which the cable passes through the spring loaded rod from end to end there- 1 40 of and is secured thereto at the far end of the rod by an adjustable screw threaded member.

4. Machine gun mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which thebolt for locking the ring to its runway israised or lowered by an arm I I 45. operated by the spring loaded rod, the said bolt-passing through the said ring .into any one of a series of holes in the runway. In testimony whereof I'have signed my name'to this specification.

T ROY CHADWI CK. 

